Record card cabinet having movable card-carrying drawers



Aug- 25, 1959 c. E. ATTWOOD 2,901,308

RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS Filed Oct. 10, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 /E'.2. 1 /1 2 9 10 1--- e i W Wax WW Aug. 25, 1959 c. E. ATTWOOD RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1956 JnZ/e nfart' farle 5426672000.!

Aug. 25, 1959 V c. E. ATTWOOD RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 10, 1956 Aug. 25, 1959 c. E. ATTWOOD RECORD CARD- CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 10, 1956 Aug. 25, 1959 c. E. ATTWOOD RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS Filed Oct. 10, 1956 v 6 Sh e'ets-Sheet 5 [fiarles lrlilirlilliifll Aug. 25, 1959 c. E. ATTWOOD 2,901,308

RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS Filed Oct. 10, 1956 e Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent RECORD CARD CABINET HAVING MOVABLE CARD-CARRYING DRAWERS Charles E. Attwood, Lake Worth, Fla., assignor to Acme Visible Records, Inc., Crozet, Va., a corporation of Delaware Application October 10, 1956, Serial No. 615,040

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-303) This invention relates to improvements in index or record card equipment and refers particularly to a record card cabinet and drawer construction therefor.

In record card cabinets heretofore proposed wherein the cabinet houses a plurality of superimposed drawers, each drawer being carried by a movable runner which carries the drawer or tray and moves outwardly a limited distance with the drawer or tray, difiiculty has been encountered in that the runners would move outwardly unevenly and would tend to bind or jam.

The present invention contemplates a runner construction wherein the opposite portions thereof are rigidly tied together whereby the opposite portions of the runners move together preventing binding or jamming when they are moved.

Another feature of the present invention resides in a cabinet construction of the class described within which the runners and drawers or trays are supported for outward and inward movement, the supporting structure being strong and rugged and being simple to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the record card cabinet with the front door thereof in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the door opened and a record card drawer or tray extended.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a record card drawer or tray employed in the cabinet shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tray taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 4 showing the top card and several record cards in thrownback position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the top card carried upon the record card drawer or tray.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the cabinet taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan sectional view through the cabinet taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevational view taken on line 11--11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken at the upper front portion of the cabinet showing the door in closed position.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken at the lower front portion of the cabinet illustrating the lock for locking the cabinet door.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the runners employed in the cabinet.

Fig. 15 is a detailed sectional view taken on of Fig. 14.

line 15-15 Patented Aug. 25, 1359 Fig. 16 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the relationship of a side portion of the runner and the tie bar for connecting it to the opposite side portion of the runner.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates a record card cabinet which embodies the features of the present invention. The cabinet 1 comprises a top Wall 2, bottom wall 3 (Figs. 9 and 11), side walls 4 and 5 (Figs. 10 and 11) and rear wall 6 (Figs. 9 and 10). The front of the cabinet is normally open but may be closed by a movable door 7 when the records contained in the cabinet are not being referred to. The top 2 and bottom 3 of the cabinet carry registering means, indentations 8 and beads 9, as shown, whereby, if desired, a plurality of similar cabinets may be stacked in superimposed position with respect to eachother.

Bordering the open front portion of the cabinet, the top Wall 2 is reverse folded inwardly to form a tapered terminating edge 10 and in similar fashion the bottom 3 is also reverse folded inwardly to form a tapered terminating edge 11 (Figs. 9, 12 and 13). As shown best in Fig. 10, the sides 4 and 5 at their forward edges are folded inwardly to form similar tapered terminating edges 12 and 13, respectively. Thus, the opening at the front of the cabinet is defined by said turned-in portions reinforcing the respective defining edges and lending a massive appearance to the cabinet.

Positioned upon the inner forward faces of both side walls 4 and 5 are channel members 14 and 15, respectively, each of said channels having a guide-supporting web portion 16 and 17, respectively. Substantially similar channel members 18 and 19 are also carried upon the inner faces of the side walls 4 and 5, respectively, and these channel members also carry guide supporting web portions 20 and 21, respectively. Disposed between the web 16 of channel 14 and wall 4 is a reinforcing channel 22 and in similar fashion reinforcing channels 23, 24 and 25 are interposed between webs: 17, 20 and 21 and walls 5, 4 and 5, respectively.

The guide-supporting web 16 carries three vertical rows of struck-up guides 26, 27 and 28 which extend inwardly with respect to the cabinet. The struck-up guides 26 and 28 are in substantial horizontal alignment and the intermediate row of guides 27 are horizontally staggered with respect to guides 26 and 28. As will be hereinafter more fully described, the guides 26 and. 28 constitute lower guides and the guides 27 constitute upper guides and the guides are so arranged that a plurality of sets of guides are provided, a set of guides constituting two lower guides 26 and 28 and an upper guide 27. In similar fashion the opposite guide supporting web 17 carries similarly disposed struck-up guides 26, 27 and 28.

The guide-supporting web 20 also carries vertical rows of guides 29, 30 and 31 arranged in a fashion similar to the arrangement of the guides 26, 2'7 and 28, respectively, as herein before described. The opposite guidesupporting web 21 also carries guides 29', 30 and 31 disposed similarly :to guides 26, 27 and. 28.

As shown best in Fig. 11, all of the guides, hereinbefore described, extend inwardly with respect to the various webs 16, 17, 20 and 21 and said guides carry overhanging flanges 32. e

As will be hereinafter more fully described the guides, hereinbefore described, are adapted to support superimposed drawers, indicated generally at 33. Each drawer 33 comprises a runner structure 34, shown in detail in Figs. 14, 1S and 16, and a card-carrying tray structure 35, shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Referring particularly to Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the runner structure 34 comprises oppositely disposed runner bars 36 which are identical in construction. Each runner bar 36 comprises a channel-shaped bar having a relatively wide flange 37, a spaced relatively narrow flange 38 and a spacing web 39. A guide strap, 40 is carried upon the outer face of each web 39 adjacent the forward end of each runner bar 36 and at the rear end the strap is bent atright-angles to its length to provide a forward stop flange 41. A rear guide strap 42 is carried upon the outer face of each opposite runner bar 36 and adjacent the forward end of each of said straps, the strap is crimped to form an outwardly extending rear stop flange 43, the stop flanges 41 and 43 being spaced longitudinally from each other upon the respective runner bars and determining, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the extent of movement of the runner structure 34 in the cabinet.

At the rear end portion of the flange 37 of each runner bar, a struck-up lug 44 is formed and a tie bar 45 is adapted to embrace each opposite lug to hold the opposite bars 36 in relatively rigid spaced relationship to each other. The tie bar 45 is so formed as to embrace lugs 44 and also to envelope the rear edge of each bar 36.

A plurality of runner structures 34 are adapted to be carried in superimposed relationship'in the cabinet and are adapted for limited slidable movement inwardly and outwardly with respect to the cabinet interior. The arrangement is such that the guides 26 and 28 and 26' and 28' embrace and sli'dably support the lower edges of the forward straps 4t) and the guides 27 and 27' embrace and guide the upper edges of said straps. In similar fashion, the guides 29 and 31 and 29 and 31 support and embrace the lower edges of the rear straps 42 and the guides 30 and 31' embrace and guide the upper edges of said straps.

When a runner structure 34 is properly positioned within the cabinet the flanges 41 and 43 carried by the opposite straps 40 and 42, respectively, are positioned between the adjacent flanges of channels 14 and 18 and and 19 on opposite sides of the cabinet. Thus, when the runner structure is pulled forwardly, flanges 41 abut the rear flanges of channels 14 and 15 to limit forward or outward movement of the runner structure and when the runner structure is moved inwardly flanges 43 carried by rear straps 42 abut the forward flanges of the channels 18 and 19 to limit rearward movement of the runner structure. To provide silient, cushioned impact ofthe flanges 41 and 43 with the respective flanges of the channels 14, 15, 18 and 19, said latter flanges may carry resilient snubbers 46 which may comprise pads of rubber, plastic, felt or the like.

As has been hereinbefore described, each drawer 33 also comprises a card-carrying tray 35. Referring particularl'y to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, details of a card'- carrying tray 35 are shown. Each tray comprises a relatively flat panel 47 having upwardly extending flanges 48 at each side edge thereof. The flanges 48 extend upwardly from the panel proper, are reversely bent, as shown at 49 in Fig. 7 and terminate in a flange portion 50 which is spaced from the upper face of the channel to provide an elongated slot 51.

The tray 35 is adapted to carry a plurality of conventional record cards 52 which are carried by conventional hangers 53, the outer bent end portions of which are adapted to be confined in the opposite slots 51. Thus, the cards 52 are carried on the tray 35 in overlapping oifset relationship.

At the forward edge of each tray 35, the panel 47 carries an upwardly extending flange 54 and an angularly tapered insert member 55 is positioned between the opposite flanges 48. The insert member 55 carries a downwardly extending. forward flange 56 which, with the upwardly extending flange 54 confines a mounting flange 57 of a front piece 58, as shown best in Fig. 4. Each front piece 58 is provided with a recess 59 in which an index card or the like may be positioned, the card being visible through a transparent closure 60. l

The rearward edge of the tray 35 is rolled to form a bead 61 in which a shaft 62 is rigidly positioned. The shaft ends extend laterally beyond the side edges of the panel 47 and each extending end carries a roller 63 which is preferably constructed of nylon, hard rubber or plastic material. Adjacent the forward edge portion of the panel 47 the downwardly extending flanges 49 are spaced from the upwardly extending flanges 48, as shown best at 49 in Fig. 6, and said spaced flanges are provided with oppositely aligned apertures adapted for the reception of the end portions of pintles 64 and 65 carried in a rolled bead 66 formed upon an end edge of a cover card 67. The pintles 64 and 65 are longitudinally movable with head 66 and are urged away from each other by coil spring 68 carried within said head. Thus, the end portions of the pintles are resiliently urged into engaged position with respect to the receiving apertures in flanges 49', but may be removed therefrom by retracting the pintles against spring 68.

Cover card 67 is not a card, in the sense contemplated with cards 32, but is a relatively strong, plate-like member preferably constructed of metal. The cover card functions as a protector for the topmost card and also functions as a weight for holding the cards 52 in substantially plane-parallel relationship to each other. In addition, when the cards '52 are swung about hinges 53 to swung-back position, as shown best in Fig. 5, the cover card 67 functions as a support for the swung-back cards. To permit the swinging back of the cards 52 without unduly distorting or bending them an angle member 69 is secured to the forward end portion of panel '47. The angle member 69 carries an inclined lip 70 which serves as a stop and support for the cover card 67 when the latter is in swung-back position.

The cover card 67 at its free end is offset upwardly and then reverse folded, as shown best at '67 in Fig. 8. Thus, the possibility of the cover card engaging or catching on the underside lips of the drawer pulls on drawers which are closed in the file above, is eliminated. That is, the top or cover card is relatively smooth and projectionless.

Each tray 35 is carried by a runner structure 34 to form a complete drawer 33, the trays being movable upon the relatively wide flanges 37 of the runner bars 36. To mount the trays upon the runner structure one roller 63 carried by a tray is inserted in the slot provided by the wide and narrow flanges 37 and 38 of a runner bar 36 on one side of the runner structure. The oppositeroll '63 may then be inserted through notch 71 provided in the narrow flange 38 of an opposite runner bar 36. To prevent removal endwise of the rollers 63 from between the flanges 37 and 38' at the forward end of the drawer, blocks 72 are secured by fastening means 73 or the like to the forward ends of the runner bars.

Thus, when a drawer 33 is pulled outwardly, the initial movement comprises a rolling movement of rollers 63 upon the opposite flanges 37, that is, the tray structure 35 moves relative to the runner structure 34. When the rollers 63' reach blocks 72 the tray structure and the runner structure move together until flanges 41 contact the rear flanges of channels 14 and .15. The tray structure '35 may then be swung to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 9 and reference may then be had to the data. carried by the record cards 52 or entries may be made upon said cards.

As has been hereinbefore described, the cabinet 1 carries a door 7 for closing the open portion of theicabinet. The structural features. of the device are such, as will be hereinafter more fully described, that the door 7 when not in use as a closure, may be housed and confined in the cabinet. The structural detailswhich permit such dual positioning of the door are described, as follows:

A partition 74 is positioned in the upper portion of the cabinet in plane-parallel relationship to the drawers 33. The partition 74 at its forward edge carries an upwardly extending flange 75 and at each edge of the partition upwardly extending flanges 7 6 are carried. Each flange 76 at its upper edge portion is turned inwardly to provide a horizontal supporting flange 77. The partition 74 is adapted for stationary disposition within the cabinet and to prevent slidable movement of the partition the webs 16 and 17 are provided with apertures 78 into which struck-down portions 79 carried by the partition 74 are inserted. The partition 74 is supported by the guides 26 and 28 and 26 and 28 and the quides 29 and 31 and 29' and 31'. Thus a stationary partition is carried in spaced relationship to the top 2 leaving a compartment 80 for the reception of the door 7.

The door 7 comprises a panel 81 (Figs. 9, 11, 12 and 13) which carries angularly turned-in portion 82 at the top edge and flanges 82' at both side edges. These angularly turned-in portions stiffen or reinforce the door and contribute to its pleasing appearance. The bottom edge of the door terminates in flange 83 (Fig. 13). Adjacent the upper edge of the door a channel member 84 is carried which engages flange 75 of partition 74 when the door is in closure position, as illustrated best in Fig. 12. The flanges 82 are provided with outwardly facing grooves 85 into which opposite guides 27 and 27 project and function as guides for the slidable movement of the door in the compartment 80. The door, however, is essentially supported by the flanges 77 carried by partition 74. Thus, the door may be positioned in the compartment 80 when not in use as a closure and may be pulled outwardly and swung downwardly about flange 75 to closure position,

A lock '86 may be carried by door 7 adjacent its lower edge, said lock having a latch member 87 which may be rotated about the pivot 88 by means of a suitable key for the lock. A latch bar 89 is carried by bottom 3 adjacent the open portion of the cabinet, the latch bar being provided with a recess 90 into which the latch 87 may be rotated to lock the door 7 in closure position. It will be noted, by reference to Fig. 13, that the latch 87 and its position of engagement with latch bar 89 is spaced above the lower face of flange 83. Hence, it is im possible to tamper with the latch by the insertion of a knife blade or other relatively thin implement between the flange 83 and the flat flange portion 11 of bottom 3.

The panel 81 of door 7 carries spaced elongated strips 90 which, as shown best in Fig. 11, extend outwardly from the outer surface of the panel. The strips 90 preferably constructed of chrome metal or plastic serve as a protector for the face of the panel 81, which is preferably painted or enameled, and prevents scratching said face when the door is moved to or from closure position. Fabric tape strips 91 may be positioned in spaced relationship upon the inner face of door panel 81 and thus marring of the front pieces 58 upon the trays will be avoided if, for instance, the door were closed and the cabinet were jostled whereby the trays were caused to move.

It will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that variations of the present invention may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention and, hence, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the exact details shown and described except as necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A record card cabinet for holding a plurality of superimposed record card-carrying drawers which comprises in combination, a cabinet having opposite side walls, a rear wall, a top and bottom wall and an open front, a Supporting web carried upon each opposite side wall in inwardly spaced relationship to the inner face of said side walls, a plurality of guides carried by said Webs, pairs of runner bars, each runner bar of each pair comprising a channel iron comprising a web, a relatively narrow upper flange and a relatively wide lower flange,

straps carried by each web of each runner bar, said straps having opposite edges extending above and below the web of each channel iron, said straps being slidably carried by the guides on the opposite supporting webs to support said bars, a transverse bar connecting each pair of runner bars together in parallel spaced relationship, lugs carried by said straps abutting said supporting web and limiting movement of said runner bars relative to said supporting webs, a card-carrying tray positioned upon the relatively wide flanges of said runner bars and movable with respect to each pair of runner bars in plane-parallel relationship thereto, stop means upon the forward ends of each pair of runner bars for causing concurrent movement of said runner bars and tray when said tray is pulled outwardly a predetermined distance from said cabinet and pintles carried by the rear portion of each tray and substantially parallel to the plane of the tray and substantially transverse to the length thereof engageable with said stop means to permit pivotal move ment of each tray about said pintles.

2. A record card cabinet for holding a plurality of superimposed record card-carrying drawers which comprises in combination, a cabinet having opposite side walls, a rear wall, a top and bottom wall and an open front, a supporting web carried upon each opposite side wall in inwardly spaced relationship to the inner face of said side walls, a plurality of guides carried by said webs, a drawer movably carried by certain of said guides for movement outwardly through said open front, said drawer comprising a runner and a card-carrying tray, said runner comprising opposite channel-sectioned runner bars, said runner bars comprising a channel web, a relatively wide lower flange and a relatively narrow upper flange, straps upon the outer faces of said. channel webs of the runner bars and having edge portions extending above and below the web of the runner bars, the lower edges of said straps resting upon said guides for movement thereon, a transverse relatively narrow member joining said bars at their rear ends in spaced relationship whereby said bars move as a unit upon said guides, lugs carried by said straps for contacting said supporting Webs and "limiting movement of said bars upon said guides relative to said web, the tray being movable upon the relatively wide lower flanges of said bars in a direction parallel to the movement of said bars, means for hingedly connecting the rear edge of said tray to the front ends of said bars, a partition carried in said cabinet in spaced relationship to said top wall, a door disposed upon certain other of said guides above said partition for slidable movement thereon, engaging means carried by the forward edge of said partition, cooperative engaging means carried by said door whereby said door may be pivotally hung to close said open front of the cabinet, a lock carried by said door at the edge portion thereof opposite said cooperative engaging means, a latch bolt carried by said lock, a latch bar carried by said bottom wall of the cabinet adjacent the open front thereof, said latch bar being spaced above the lower defining edge of said open front, said latch bar being provided with an opening for the reception of said latch to lock said door upon the open front of said cabinet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,964 Blaise Oct. 25, 1921 1,407,948 Rand Feb. 28, 1922 1,841,330 Gronberg Jan. 12, 1932 1,886,800 Freiberg Nov. 8, 1932 1,916,397 Unger July 4, 1933 2,238,004 Wolters Apr. 8, 1941 2,238,005 Wolters Apr. 8, 1941 2,241,884 Noble May 13, 1941 2,599,240 Ellerson June 3, 1952 2,627,446 Welk Feb. 3, 1953 2,678,865 Perkins May 18, 1954 

